Whale Arts Agency

Wester Hailes Arts for Leisure and Education

0131 458 3267

Vacancy: Marketing and Communications Lead

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WHALE Arts marketing and communications Lead Job advert featured image graphic for website and social media with details on 14th July 9am deadline

We are seeking a creative, well organised self-starter to develop and deliver engaging content communicating the impact of our work and connecting us to our community, partners, artists and funders.

Permanent
Part-Time – 14 hours a week
£26,326 pro-rata
Based at WHALE Arts Centre, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh, EH14 2SA

WHALE Arts is a community-led arts charity and social enterprise based in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh. Our vision is for a creative, thriving, resilient community. We provide access to inspiring creative opportunities, working in partnership with local people and artists to support community-led development through the arts.

We are seeking a creative and organised Marketing and Communications Lead to tell the story of WHALE Arts. Working closely with our team, you’ll lead on marketing and communications across the organisation, ensuring consistent, confident messaging and brand identity across digital and print platforms. You’ll support audience development, promote our programmes and events, manage media relations, and ensure our communications are accessible and inclusive.

Key Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement WHALE’s Communications and Engagement Strategy.
  • Create and manage engaging content for our website, social media channels, newsletters, and printed materials.
  • Support audience development and fundraising goals by expanding reach and participation.
  • Maintain brand consistency in messaging, tone, and visual identity.
  • Manage press and media relations, including writing and distributing press releases.
  • Work collaboratively with programme staff to ensure timely and effective promotion of events.
  • Use analytics and feedback to evaluate communications performance and inform strategy.
  • Lead on ensuring digital accessibility and safeguarding standards across communications.
  • Manage film/photography permissions, ensuring GDPR and safeguarding compliance.
  • Oversee marketing budget and maintain relevant databases and digital tools.
  • Collate audience data and support reporting and evaluation alongside the Front of House team.

We’re looking for someone who is enthusiastic about community arts and social impact, with a flair for storytelling, visual communication, and audience engagement. You’ll have experience in managing social media and websites, be confident in coordinating campaigns, and understand the importance of accessible, inclusive communication.

How to Apply

Click the links below to download the full job description and Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form:

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter (or max 5 minute video/audio statement) explaining your suitability for the role to recruitment@whalearts.co.uk by 9.00am on 14 July 2025. Interviews will take place on Wednesday 23 July.

For further information, please contact info@whalearts.co.uk (Kate Griffin), or call 0131 458 3267.

Volunteering Opportunities for our Creative Arts and Wellbeing Programme  

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We are looking for some volunteers to support our Men’s Makers sessions and Open Studio sessions.

Open Studio Support

Open Studio is a space for people to come to try a new creative process or work on their own creative projects.

We are looking for a volunteer who will be there to help set up, chat to and support participants and help clear away afterwards.

Tuesdays, 9.30am-12.45pm and/or Thursdays 1pm-4.15pm 

More information: Creative Arts Programme Volunteer_Open Studio Support Role Description

Men’s Makers Support

Men’s Makers is a social session for men to come and develop their making skills. 

We are looking for a volunteer who identifies as male, to help set up, support the lead artist to run the sessions and serve up a meal.

Wednesdays, 10am – 2.00pm

More information: Creative Arts Programme Volunteer_Men’s Makers Support Role Description

To apply for either role or for further information please contact WHALE Arts: 

Email: volunteercoordinator@whalearts.co.uk 

Phone: 0131 458 3267 

WHALE Arts Appoints New CEO

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WHALE Arts Appoints CEO, WHALE new CEO Kate Griffin with board members Eunice Main and Allan McNaughton
Kate Griffin, CEO , centre, with Board Members Eunice Main and Allan McNaughton

WHALE Arts are delighted to announce the appointment of Kate Griffin as our new Chief Executive, replacing Leah Black, who leaves us in July 2024 after 6 years at WHALE.

Kate brings a wealth of experience and insight to the role, having held the posts of Interim Chief Executive since August 2022 and Head of Programmes prior to that. She has worked for more than twenty years across the creative sector, with a focus on national arts programmes and creative education.

Dr Andrew McNiven, Chair of Trustees, WHALE Arts

Kate’s expertise in the challenging and exciting field of community arts, her excellent interpersonal, management and strategic skills, and her deep understanding of Wester Hailes, allied to her ability to advocate for this community at regional and national level ,will, we feel sure, enable her to provide excellent opportunities for our participants and our community. On behalf of the WHALE Board, our members, participants and staff team, we wish her all the best in her new role.

We would like to thank Leah Black, our outgoing Chief Executive, for her excellent work as WHALE Chief Executive since 2018, and especially during the pandemic. WHALE Arts ability to adapt and work in supporting our communities during this difficult period was outstanding and widely recognised. We wish Leah good luck in her new exciting role leading Foundation Scotland’s Regenerative Futures Fund.

Kate Griffin, CEO, WHALE Arts said:

I’m absolutely thrilled to be appointed as WHALE Arts’ CEO. I’m looking forward to working with the team, participants, members, volunteers and Board at WHALE Arts to continue our award-winning work as the creative heart of our community 

Be part of WHALE Arts’ Community Asset Transfer

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Above: The WHALE Arts building sits on land that the community could potentially own and extend out to ‘The Kickabout’ site

Although WHALE owns its building, it currently leases the land that the building sits on from the council. The lease ends in a few years’ time, and it’s time to make a decision: renew it, or take ownership of the site on behalf of the community. As well as the WHALE site on Westburn Grove, which includes the existing community garden, another possibility is to apply for a Community Asset Transfer extending to the kickabout next door and/or part of the surrounding area of woodland. If this goes ahead, WHALE would own, look after manage and develop these assets on behalf of the community of Wester Hailes, in line with its objectives as a charity. 

WHALE is working with Community Enterprise to find out what people want to happen at the WHALE Arts site. Keep an eye on our website for more information, project updates and other ways to take part. 

Voice your opinion by filling our survey now by clicking here: http://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/whalearts

Background – What is Community Asset Transfer? 

A Community Asset Transfer is a process that recognises the benefits of community use and ownership by allowing community organisations to take over publicly owned land or buildings. Asset Transfer was implemented as part of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. Over the past several years, legislation and national policy in Scotland has developed to encourage and support the ownership of assets (buildings and /or land) by communities. The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015; The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003; a joint COSLA/Scottish Government Statement 2008 and a Community Empowerment Action Plan in 2009. Further reading: – https://dtascommunityownership.org.uk/community/community-asset-transfer/asset-transfer-policy-benefits/what-asset-transfer 

Why is WHALE Arts talking about Community Asset Transfer just now? 

WHALE Arts has been working in Wester Hailes for 28 years, since 1992. Originally based in the Blue Hut on the Murrayburn Greenway, WHALE Arts moved to the site we work from today. The WHALE Arts Centre was designed and built in the late 90’s and opened in 2000. The reason we are talking about Asset Transfer now is because although the community own the building, the land is owned by City of Edinburgh Council and leased to WHALE Arts. The original 25-year lease has only 4 years left, running until 2024. We could ask City of Edinburgh Council to extend the lease instead of bringing the land into community ownership, however the benefits of full community ownership are clear (see below), so we felt that now is a good time to explore Asset Transfer. 

What are the benefits of Community Ownership? 

Usually communities want to bring buildings and land into community ownership to create a new physical base for the community to work and/or socialise from. However, because WHALE Arts already own the building – and from this base deliver a broad range of creative and community activities – the reasons for doing this are to develop the building and the garden with a view to creating new enterprise activity which will create jobs, training and business opportunities for local residents. Other benefits include skills and capacity development for local residents in learning about community ownership, as well as security for the future of WHALE Arts. Further reading here on the benefits of Community Ownership – https://dtascommunityownership.org.uk/community/community-asset-transfer/asset-transfer-policy-benefits/benefits-community-ownership 

What is the process, how long will this take? 

An important part of the process is providing evidence of the need for WHALE Arts to exist into the future. We also need to show that the organisation can survive financially. To do this we are currently working with Community Enterprise on a community consultation, a business plan, and land valuation. We should have a business plan completed by late May 2021. During the summer 2021 we will work with the Members to take this to the next stage, this may involve applying to Scottish Land Fund for funding to buy the land from City of Edinburgh Council, or it may involve a negotiation with City of Edinburgh Council direct. So our hope is that this process will be complete by late 2021. 

How can I get involved and find out more? 

There are lots of ways that you can get involved!


Survey

We have created a short survey to collect initial ideas from local residents and those who work or volunteer locally. We would really appreciate it if you would take the time to complete the survey online by following this link: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WhaleArts

You can choose to complete either a shorter (3-5 mins) version which focuses solely on the Community Asset Transfer process, or a longer (8-12 mins) version of the survey which asks a few further questions relating to WHALE. 

This survey is being carried out on behalf of WHALE Arts by Community Enterprise. All survey responses are recorded on Survey Monkey whose privacy policy can be viewed here. Community Enterprise’s privacy policy can be viewed here.
If you have any difficulties with the online survey, would prefer a printable PDF version or have further questions, please contact Judith on 07927118995 or judith@communityenterprise.co.uk

Open Meeting

Please do come along to a virtual meeting and discussion on Thursday 22nd April 6-7pm.

Everyone is welcome, whether you live locally or work in Wester Hailes. The meeting will take place on Zoom and you can register to take part here: www.bit.ly/3tO5csZ

Become a member.
We are really interested in hearing from local residents who would like to be involved in the Asset Transfer and would like to become Members of WHALE Arts. Members have voting rights (voting in the board of trustees) and can come along to our Members Breakfasts to help shape WHALE Arts projects and activities. 

Find out more and complete the member’s registration form on our website: Become a member of WHALE Arts – Information on WHALE Arts Membership – WHALE Arts

Stay in touch and keep up to date

New Initiative for Community Wealth Building in South West Edinburgh

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Press Release: 22 July 2020

South West Edinburgh on the road to become first people-led ‘Community Wealth Building’ locality as GoBeyond reveals plan to build a ‘Community Wealth Building’ locality by 2030.

The collaborative approach, based on wellbeing economics and a greener recovery, is currently leading the Covid-19 recovery in South West Edinburgh.

Covid-19 increased demand for local support services overnight. In the Gorgie/Sighthill ward of Edinburgh, key anchors and small organisations came together to increase their capacity to address local challenges and build a coordinated map of services.

Behind this collaborative approach is the GoBeyond network, facilitated by Big Hearts, Whale Arts and Space & Broomhouse Hub. GoBeyond aims to share expertise, organise resources and encourage mutual support between community organisations and groups in South West Edinburgh.

With an estimated poverty of 22% in the ward, including the highest rate of child poverty across the city (35% vs 22%) and a working age population higher than the national average (73% vs 63%), the GoBeyond network has initiated a pro-active approach for the long-term resilience and prosperity of South West Edinburgh communities.

The first people-led ‘Community Wealth Building’ locality

The GoBeyond network facilitators would like to start a conversation with the people who live and work in South West Edinburgh with the aim to adopt a people-led strategy to create a ‘Community Wealth Building Locality’, based on wellbeing economics and a greener recovery.

Community Wealth Building refers to a pioneering and inclusive people-centred approach based on economic, social and environmental justice for the wellbeing and benefit of the local community.

Preston (Lancashire), Wirral (Merseyside) and North Ayrshire are some of the UK local authorities currently leading similar strategies, with South West Edinburgh expected to be the first people-led locality of its kind in Scotland.

Leading the Covid-19 recovery this summer

In South West Edinburgh, the three facilitators behind GoBeyond have been recognised by the Scottish Government as Community Anchor Organisations with funding awarded to coordinate the local efforts in supporting communities throughout the pandemic.

As of 22 July, a total of £55,000 in crisis grants have already been distributed to 30 resident groups and grassroots projects helping vulnerable people from Gorgie and Dalry, to Broomhouse, Sighthill and Parkhead and up to Wester Hailes and Clovestone.

Bridie Ashrowan, Chief Executive at Space & the Broomhouse Hub comments:

“GoBeyond was initially created to share ideas and resources for a pro-active response to local needs. The Covid-19 crisis has demonstrated how our collaborative approach can benefit the whole community in times of need. It’s a first achievement as we move forward to building and implementing the first community wealth building locality in South West Edinburgh.“

Note to editors:

1. GoBeyond: a 10-year plan for South West Edinburgh

GoBeyond is a network of trusted local voluntary sector partners with over 130 contributors working across local neighbourhoods in South West Edinburgh.

Their Community Wealth Building approach will take courage to build, going beyond the historic sole economic value, and shining light on the intrinsic value of people and assets that underpin a holistic approach to development in South West Edinburgh towards 2030.

As well as attracting new investments and green infrastructures into the local area, the new Community Wealth Building locality will open conversations with The City of Edinburgh Council, the Edinburgh Partnership and the Scottish Government on opportunities to ‘build back better’ and contribute to the growing community wealth and wellbeing economy strategies locally and internationally. To find out more, visit: https://wearegobeyond.org/

2. Community Anchors & Small Grants

This summer, GoBeyond is delighted to deliver financial support to grassroots projects and small community-based groups in Gorgie/Dalry, Broomhouse and Wester Hailes via its Small Community Grants scheme, which is supported by the Scottish Government’s Supporting Communities Fund via The National Lottery Community Fund.

Over 30 local groups in South West Edinburgh are receiving funds including : St Augustine’s Rugby Club, the Wester Hailes Litter Picking Group, Friends of Saughton Park, St Bride’s Centre (courses for adults), Love Gorgie Farm (educational programme), B Healthy Together (wellbeing) and Dunedin Canmore Youth Projects.

These small grants will benefit the local population affected during the Covid-19 pandemic and are made available through Community Anchor Organisations selected by the Scottish Government: Big Hearts Community Trust, Space & Broomhouse Hub and the Whale Arts Agency.

Media requests:

Phone enquiries: 0131 603 4816

▪    CRAIG WILSON, General Manager at Big Hearts Community Trust: craig.wilson@bighearts.org.uk

▪    BRIDIE ASHROWAN, Chief Executive at Space & Broomhouse Hub:  bridie@spacescot.org

▪    LEAH BLACK, Chief Executive at Whale Arts Agency: leah@whalearts.co.uk

WHALE Arts is …

... the cultural anchor organisation for Wester Hailes. We are a community-led arts charity and social enterprise, set up by local people in 1992. Our mission is to be the creative heart of a vibrant, thriving community.

WHALE Arts

30 Westburn Grove,
Edinburgh,
EH14 2SA
0131 458 3267
info@whalearts.co.uk

Latest News

Vacancy: Marketing and Communications Lead

We are seeking a creative, well organised self-starter to develop and deliver engaging content communicating the impact of our work and connecting us to our community, partners, artists and funders. PermanentPart-Time – 14 hours a week£26,326 pro-rataBased at WHALE Arts Centre, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh, EH14 2SA WHALE Arts is a community-led arts charity and social […]

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